Which Schools Might We Compete for a HC With This Year?

If nothing else, due to political correctness pressure, I assume Strong will be at Texas for at least one more year. I don't think Tennessee will get rid of Butch yet either as long as they get to a bowl, which they will. Auburn is not going to run off Gus, he's not Chizik. Oregon isn't going to run their guy off one year after playing for the title. Arkansas can't do better than what they have now. England will cast out the royal family before Georgia finds the stones to fire Richt, he's a good christain man! Nebraska won't fire the guy after one year. Va Tech will let Beamer do whatever he wants. Vandy doesn't care enough about football to run Mason off.

Maryland, Virginia, Iowa St, and Miami should all fire their coach. Washington State should get rid of the pirate. But honestly, if we have an opening, we should be the best available job. Some may argue Miami just due to location for recruiting, but they aren't Miami of 15 years ago.

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Some may argue Miami just due to location for recruiting, but they aren't Miami of 15 years ago.

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The Miami administration has made a conscious effort to deemphasize the football program. I think that they're quite content to live in 6-6/7-5 land for the foreseeable future. The program was a source I'd public embarrassment for SO long, that I don't think they'll let it come back online in a big way for a while.

I don't think Arkansas is as bad as their record, and I think Long realizes that and will keep Bert around for at least another year.

Vandy won't fire Mason, and shouldn't, after two years. He's a much better coach than he gets credit for, and he inherited a completely bare cupboard.

I'd be very surprised if Auburn fired Gus. Sure, they're crazy, but I think he's their guy at least for another year or two.

The real wildcard, to me, is UTK. The fanbase is notoriously impatient, and Jones is losing support by the hour. They had wholly unrealistic expectations from the start this year, but still. If they beat UGA this weekend, a lot of that talk will quiet down for a few moments. If the rumors that he did strike a player are proven true, then he's gone, and that is our most direct competition. UTK is in a better position to win than we are next season because they have a good bit more talent. But long-term, despite the "tradition," I think the unrealistic expectations of a very myopic fanbase works very hard against them. There's a reason they were publicly turned down by their first three candidates last go-round.

If USC has a concurrent opening with UTK, it's imperative that this job be filled quietly and quickly by what would publicly appear to be Tanner's first choice. And I think he's got his eye on Smart. I'm not saying he's my favorite candidate, but I am starting to think he's the guy Tanner is going to give the keys.

I think you can remove Oregon from that list completely. They bumped up Helfrich's salary significantly this year, and will settle with a less-than-stellar season due to the "Cam-less" factor without Mariota. They're not good, but won't go winless in the PAC 12.

Maryland is going to fire Edsall this Saturday night. They've already chalked this season up as a wash, so I'm not real sure if they have any longevity plans with their interim after Edsall leaves. They may have their eyes turned on Chip Kelly right now.

I'm interested to see how this Butch-gate thing plays out at Tennessee. They won't fire him on performance alone, but they may use this physical abuse thing as a means to get him out if they have another 7-6 season. It's not likely, but I'm concerned about having Fuente in their state and doing what they can to lure him in.

As for Texas, who the hell knows with that. They'll want to get rid of Strong if this season continues to suck, but they won't be able to for many reasons. I love it. frick Texas.

UVA & Miami probably need to be higher on the list, London has absolutely done nothing there and I'm pretty sure he was already on the hot seat coming into the year. Al Golden I believe was also in the same position and Miami seems to have enough money now to fire & hire a new guy from whats being said lately.

Nebraska shouldn't be on this list at all, they just hired Riley this past year.

We can cross Texas off the list

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We can cross Texas off the list

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Agreed, rivalry win may have just saved his job.

I don't think Butch was going to be fired.. but if he was, then I think Butch may have won himself another year with the UGA win..

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USCw just shot up the list. Sark apparently showed up drunk to work, AD's making him go to treatment. USCw now has a interim head coach.

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Yup. And Maryland fired Edsall, too.

At least two openings to compete with, even if UTK and UTA look safe.

So Cal is going to get their top pick, they are off of sanctions now and have the edge on all west coast recruiting. (Except if their top pick is Saban, he won't leave bama for them. Urban might though, if the money is insane.)